System and method of personalizing online marketing campaigns

ABSTRACT

Personalized electronic content is generated for display on a user computer. The content is generated by first matching a targeted user online identifier to one of a plurality of user online identifiers associated with a master ID in a database. Using online user behavior associated with the user online identifiers of the master ID, a preliminary set of personalized electronic content is generated. A set of content usage parameters is applied to the preliminary set of personalized electronic content to define the personalized electronic content, which is then transmitted and displayed on a user computer. The personalized electronic content may comprise targeted advertisement utilized to populate a webpage or an email template defined by an online marketing campaign.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. The Field of the Present Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic commerce, and more particularly, but not necessarily entirely, to personalization of electronically generated content.

2. Description of Related Art

The growth of electronic commerce (“e-commerce”) has led to a dramatic increase in the number of websites offering products and services for sale. E-commerce, in its broadest sense, refers generally to the conducting of business communications and transactions over networks through computers. More specifically, e-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and services, and the transfer of funds, through digital communications. As used herein, e-commerce refers to both of the above descriptions.

Many e-commerce websites are personalized such that each user may be presented with a unique experience to maximize the possibility of a sale. Personalization of the e-commerce website may be based on a user's historical online behavior and demographic information known about the user. Using the user's historical online behavior and known demographic information, a website attempts to predict the interests of the user. These predicted interests are then used to customize the presentation of the webpages of the website. For example, a webpage may include an advertisement for a product that is predicted to be of interest to a user based on the user's past purchase history. It will be appreciated that these personalization techniques may be utilized in conjunction with marketing campaigns.

To identify and track users, e-commerce websites employ user online identifiers. For example, websites may download small segments of data known as tracking cookies to the users' electronic devices. These tracking cookies typically contain some kind of ID number that allows the website to identify the electronic devices. Typically, when an electronic device accesses a website, the website requests that the electronic device's web browser provide the tracking cookie stored in the memory of the electronic device. Using the tracking cookie, the website is able to identify the electronic device's previous online history. For example, the website may be able to determine product listings previously accessed by an electronic device or online purchases made using the electronic device. The website may also be able to identify any user accounts associated with the electronic device. The website may also be able to access demographic information previously associated with the electronic device using the tracking cookie. This may include the gender, age, and interests of a user of the electronic device.

One drawback to the use of tracking cookies for personalization purposes is that the website cannot identify the specific users accessing the website based on the tracking cookies. That is, tracking cookies only identify the electronic device itself and not the actual user. (In reality, tracking cookies are actually browser specific.) Thus, any historical information stored by the website for a particular tracking cookie may be device specific and not user specific. For example, in a situation where multiple users use the same electronic device to access the same e-commerce website, the website does not know which of the users is actually using the electronic device at any given time. In this situation, personalization may be totally ineffective, or even offensive, because the personalization may be directed to a user that is not actually using the electronic device.

Personalization is further complicated by the fact that a user may access a website from multiple electronic devices used by multiple other users. For example, a user may access a website from a home computer, a work computer, and a smart phone, each of which may have its own tracking cookie. However, a spouse of the user may also use the same home computer making it difficult to know which user is actually online at any given time.

Personalization is even further complicated by the fact that a user may use multiple accounts with an e-commerce website or multiple users may use a single account to make purchases through an e-commerce website, such as in a familial situation. Likewise, users may have multiple email accounts through which they access an e-commerce website.

From the above, it can be seen that correctly identifying an actual user of an electronic device for personalization purposes is virtually impossible. Further, erroneous identification of the actual user using an electronic device may result in lost sales opportunities. For example, a user presented with a personalized webpage customized for a different user may lose interest and leave the website. In some instances, a user presented with personalized content targeted for another user may even be offended or annoyed. Likewise, a targeted user may not want another user to be targeted with personalized content intended for the targeted user.

While the above-described problems identifying actual users may never be eliminated in their entireties, it would be an improvement over the prior art to provide a system and method for enhanced personalization techniques that improve the probability of a sale in a multi-user, multi-device environment.

The prior art is thus characterized by several disadvantages that are addressed by the present disclosure. The present disclosure minimizes, and in some aspects eliminates, the above-mentioned failures, and other problems, by utilizing the methods and structural features described herein.

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the present disclosure without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for generating personalized electronic content according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts a webpage template according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts a webpage generated using the webpage template shown in FIG. 2 populated with personalized electronic content;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary table of user online identifiers associated with a master ID in a database;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary table showing content usage parameters for the user online identifiers shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a process for generating personalized electronic content according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure claimed.

In describing and claiming the present disclosure, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set out below. It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” “having,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is depicted a system 20 for providing enhanced personalized electronic content to users. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized electronic content may be customized webpages of a website, such as an e-commerce website. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized electronic content may be a body of an email utilized in an email-marketing campaign. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized electronic content may be banner ads or other advertisements displayed on a website or in electronic communications.

According to examples of embodiments of the present invention, the system 20 can be positioned to provide personalized electronic content on an online retailer/wholesaler website, sometimes referred to as an e-commerce website, or in the body of emails. The system 20 may include an electronic content generation server 21. In an embodiment, the server 21 is part of an e-commerce enterprise that hosts an e-commerce website, as is known to those of ordinary skill. In an embodiment, the server 21 is a bulk email server for generating emails for use in email-marketing campaigns.

The server 21 may include a processor 22 and memory 23. One or more second computers, e.g., user computers 27, positioned remote from and in communication with the web server 21 through an electronic communication network 30, such as the Internet or other internetwork. The system 20 can also include an electronic content generation program 24 stored on a tangible computer medium, such as, for example, one or more various types of memory, such as, for example, memory 23 of the server 21. The program 24 may contain instructions, that when executed by the processor 22, cause the processor 22 to provide personalized electronic content on the remote computers 27. The system 20 can also include a plurality of database servers (not shown) that warehouse data regarding e-commerce conducted through the system 20. The warehoused data may include user demographic and tracked online behavior. The data may include online advertisements created by a marketing department.

As understood by those skilled in the art, the memory 23 of the server 21 can include volatile and nonvolatile memory known to those skilled in the art including, for example, RAM, ROM, and magnetic or optical disks, just to name a few. It should also be understood by those skilled in the art that, although illustrated as a single server, the illustrated configuration of the server 21 is given by way of example and that other types of servers or computers configured according to various other methodologies known to those skilled in the art can be used. The server 21 shown schematically in FIG. 1 represents a server or server cluster or server farm and is not limited to any individual physical server. The server site may be deployed as a server farm or server cluster managed by a server-hosting provider. The number of servers and their architecture and configuration may be increased based on usage, demand, and capacity requirements for the system 20. Similarly, the database servers (not shown) each represent a server or server cluster or server farm and are not limited to any individual physical server or configuration.

As understood by those skilled in the art, the user computers 27 can be laptops, desktops, personal digital assistants or PDAs, cell phones, smart phones, mobile phones, servers, home computers, work computers, Internet-enabled devices, digital music players, smart TVs, or other types of processor-based computing devices. As known and understood by those skilled in the art, the network 30 can include an internet or world wide web of a plurality of computers/servers in communication with one or more other computers through a communication network, and/or portions of a local or other area network.

As further understood by those skilled in the art, the program 24 can be in the form of microcode, programs, routines, and symbolic languages that provide a specific set for sets of ordered operations that control the functioning of the hardware and direct its operation, as known and understood by those skilled in the art. The program 24, according to an embodiment of the present invention, also need not reside in its entirety in volatile memory, but can be selectively loaded, as necessary, according to various methodologies as known and understood by those skilled in the art. As further understood by those skilled in the art, the term “computer-readable medium” encompasses distribution media, intermediate storage media, execution memory of a computer, and any other medium or device capable of storing the program 24 implementing the functionality or processes of various embodiments of the present invention for later reading by a computer. The program 24 can be copied from the computer-readable medium to a hard disk or a similar intermediate storage medium. When the program 24, or portions thereof, are to be run, it can be loaded either from their distribution medium or their intermediate storage medium into the execution memory of the computer, configuring the computer to act in accordance with the functionality or method of various embodiments of this invention. All such operations are well known to those skilled in the art of computer systems.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the program 24 can include a set of instructions that when executed by the processor 22, cause the server 21, to perform the operations of generating personalized electronic content for transmission and display on the user computers 27. In an embodiment, the personalized electronic content may comprise one or more customized webpages dynamically generated by the server 21. The customized webpages may be displayed in web browsers running on the user computers 27. The customized webpages may include variations of layout, colors, themes, information, product recommendations, and advertisements. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized electronic content may be the body of an email sent to users. The users may view the emails using an email program running on the user computers 27. Thus, it will be appreciated that the personalized electronic content may be any electronic content that may be viewed on the user computers 27 by users and is not limited to just webpages and emails. For example, the personalized electronic content may be displayed to users on the remote computers 27 on a webpage, as viewed, for example, on a display 26 of one or more remote user computers 27, through the communication network 30, e.g., Internet. In an embodiment, the personalized content may include social media content, or any other content generated for display to a user, including but not limited to, product recommendations and adverstisements of all sorts.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is depicted an exemplary webpage template 100 that may be used by the server 21 to generate a webpage with personalized content that is displayed on one of the user computers 27 using a web browser. The template 100 may include features common to all of the webpages generated using the template 100, including an interactive product taxonomy search bar 102 that provides links to different product categories, a search box 104 that allows users to conduct searches within the website, and an interactive link 106 to a checkout feature. The template 100 may be stored in a database accessible to the server 21.

In addition, the template 100 may further include empty frames 108A-108D. The frames 108A-108D may be able to display personalized advertising content as determined by the server 21. In an embodiment, the frames 108A-108D are populated by the server 21 with personalized electronic content using the present invention. The content in the frames 108A-108D may be interactive such that when selected by a user, the content in the frames 108A-108D directs a user to product listings or product category pages. Thus, it will be appreciated that the personalized content displayed in the frames 108A-108D may be varied from user to user to provide a personalized webpage from the template 100. In an embodiment, the template 100 may be for a homepage of an e-commerce website. It will be noted that the larger the frame, the more weight is given to the frame. For example, frame 108A is considered to have more weight than frames 108B and 108C since it is larger.

Referring now to FIG. 3, where like reference numerals depict like components, there is depicted an exemplary personalized webpage 100A generated by the server 21 using the template 100 shown in FIG. 2. As can be observed, the frames 108A-108D have been populated with personalized electronic content in the form of targeted advertisements selected by the server 21. The targeted advertisements may be selected by the server 21 using the personalization techniques that are described herein. It is important to note that the above discussion in relation to FIGS. 2 and 3 may also apply to generating personalized emails to users using an email template. That is, an email template may be populated with personalized content in the same manner by the server 21 according to the principles of the present invention.

In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized content generated by the server 21 may be targeted advertisements placed on a third-party website. For example, the personalized content may be a banner ad or other type of advertisement displayed on a news website. The banner ad may include an interactive link to an e-commerce website. Thus, it will be appreciated that personalized content may include product advertisements, targeted advertisements and product recommendations. In addition, personalized content may include customized search results and webpage layouts. In an embodiment, the personalized content may comprise at least one of targeted advertisements, product recommendations, banner advertisements, special promotions, webpages, invitations, emails, search results and sorted product lists. The manner of generating personalized electronic content will now be described below.

To generate personalized content, the electronic content generation server 21 tracks, stores, and maintains user interaction information under a master ID in a database. The master ID may be a numeric or alphanumeric identifier. In an embodiment, the master ID is a pre-existing master ID, and may comprise an online user identifier. In an illustrative embodiment, the user interaction information may include user interactions with websites, including e-commerce websites and any other type of websites. In an embodiment, the user interaction information may be tracked and recorded by another server, including a third-party tracking server as known to those of ordinary skill. The third-party tracking server may make the user interaction information available to the server 21. The user interaction information may include a wide range of data that may be utilized to assist in identifying and tracking a user or specific user computers 27 online, including user online identifiers.

In an illustrative embodiment, the user online identifiers may include user account information provided while creating a user account with a website. For example, users may be required to establish user accounts in order to conduct e-commerce with an e-commerce website. As known to those having ordinary skill, to establish a user account, a user may be required to complete a registration process that requires that the user provide a unique login ID and password. In addition, a user may be required to provide his or her first and last name, an email address, home address and a shipping address. The user may also be required to provide payment information, including a credit card number, billing name, and a billing address.

In an illustrative embodiment, the user online identifiers may include the tracking cookies of the user computers 27 through which a user accesses a user account on a website. For example, if a user is found to have accessed the same user account on an e-commerce website from multiple user computers 27, the server 21 tracks and records the tracking cookies of each of user computers 27 that accessed the same user account under the same master ID in the database. It will be appreciated a tracking cookie is a form of a unique tracking identifier. It will be further appreciated that as used herein, the term “unique tracking identifier” refers to tracking cookies, i.e., small pieces of data sent from a website and stored in a user's web browser, and data similar to tracking cookies, including unique identifiers used in a similar manner to tracking cookies to identify electronic devices.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 tracks and records multiple email addresses utilized to login to the same user account and associates those email addresses under the same master ID in the database. For example, a user may utilize both a work and a personal email address to access the same user account on a website. (This may occur when a user clicks on an interactive link provided in a solicited or unsolicited email sent to the user's email addresses). Both the work and personal email addresses would be stored under the same master ID in the database by the server 21.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may run an automated procedure to determine if a user can be matched to other user accounts registered with other websites. For example, a user may have multiple user accounts with multiple websites. To accomplish this task, the server 21 may attempt to match user information associated with a first user account known to be associated with a targeted user with the user information associated with a second user account. For example, the server 21 may attempt to match a user's name, physical address, or email address associated with a first user account with a user's name, physical address, or email address of a second user account. In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may compare the last name and the first few letters of the first name to determine if a match exists. If the server 21 matches the user information of the first user account with the user information of the second user account, then the second user account may be associated to the master ID in the database in conjunction with the first user account.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may run an automated procedure to determine if multiple email addresses are associated with the same physical address or household. To accomplish this task, the server 21 may attempt to match user information associated with a first email address known to be associated with a targeted user with user information associated with a second email account. In an illustrative embodiment, the user information may be a physical address associated with the email addresses. For example, if two email addresses are associated with the same physical address, a match has been found. If a match is found, the second email address may be associated with the master ID in the database along with the first email address.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may track and record the different IP addresses through which a user account on a website is accessed. The server 21 may also track and record the IP addresses of the user computers 27 that access a website. The server 21 may also track and record the IP addresses of emails through which a website is accessed. These IP addresses are associated with the same master ID in the database by the server 21.

Referring now to FIG. 4, as described above, the server 21 processes the user interaction information to centralize related user online identifiers under a single master ID, and more particularly, in a master ID table 200 stored in a database accessible to the server 21. In particular, when a user accesses a website for the first time, or establishes a user account, from one of the user computers 27 (see FIG. 1) through a web browser, the website places a tracking cookie in the memory of the user computer 27. The server 21 may associate the tracking cookie to a master ID by placing the tracking cookie in the master ID table 200. For purposes of the master ID, this “first” tracking cookie is referred to herein as the base tracking cookie 202 shown in FIG. 4.

When a user established a user account with the website through a registration process, this user account may become the base user account 205. During the registration process, the user may provide personal information, including login ID, password, first name, last name, and physical address.

In an illustrative embodiment, when a user provides an email address in association with creating the user account on the website, this email address becomes the base email address 204 associated with the master ID table 200 as shown in FIG. 4. In an embodiment, the base email address 204 may also be an email through which a user subscribes to a subscription or is provided by a lead generation. For example, if a user clicks through an advertisement in a solicited or unsolicited email, the user's email address may become the base email address 204.

As the server 21 tracks and records user interactions with a website, a user may login to his or her account from one or more of the other ones of the user computers 27. The website may transmit and store tracking cookies on the other ones of the user computers 27. The server 21 also stores these tracking cookies 206 of the other ones of the user computers 27 in the master ID table 200. In addition, if a user logs into his or her user account through email accounts that are not the base email account 204, the server 21 also stores these email addresses 208 in the master ID table 200.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may attempt to match other user accounts to the user account associated with the base user account 205. This may be done by matching personal information associated with each user account, such as name and physical address. If the server 21 matches other user accounts to the base user account 205, then those accounts are listed in the table 200 under matched user accounts 210. It will be appreciated that the matched user accounts 210 may be accounts on the same website as the base user account 205 or on other third-party websites.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may attempt to match other email addresses to the physical address associated with the base email address 204 through address matching. For example, if other email addresses are found to have the same physical address as that of the physical address associated with the base email address 204, then these other email addresses are stored in the table 200 as matched email addresses 212.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may also track and record the IP addresses for: (i) the user computer 27 associated with the base tracking cookie 202; (ii) the user computers 27 through which the user accesses his or her email; (iii) the user computers 27 through which the user logins to his or her account; and (4) any other user computer 27 that can be matched or linked to the user. These IP addresses are stored in the table 200 as IP address 214.

As can be observed, the user online identifiers in the master ID table 200 are logically divided into Levels I-IV. It will be appreciated that the logical division of the table 200 into Levels I-IV is for discussion purposes only and to assist in the disclosure of the present invention. That is, the table 200 may not actually be divided or arranged into separate levels when stored in a database. The division of the table 200 into Levels I-IV should therefore not be considered limiting on the scope of the present disclosure.

As can further be observed from FIG. 4, the user ID confidence level of the Level I data is the highest while the user ID confidence level of Level IV is the lowest. In practice, this means that personalization of electronic content based on the user online identifiers for Level I is likely to be more relevant than the personalization of electronic content for Level IV. In the context of e-commerce, the personalized content for Level I is more likely to result in a sale than for Levels II-IV. This may be true because of the decrease in the user ID confidence level. That is, users other than the targeted user may be utilizing the user online identifiers in Levels II-IV.

For example, personalizing electronic content solely based on matched IP addresses 214 may result in a user being presented with irrelevant and even offensive content because of the multiple numbers of other users that may be using the IP addresses 214. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the personalization of electronic content based on the data in Levels IV should be avoided. In fact, personalizing electronic content based on the data in Levels II-IV can be worthwhile if conducted pursuant to pre-defined usage parameters as will be discussed below.

Prior to proceeding, it is important to note that the manner in which the user online identifiers in table 200 may be utilized to generate personalized content in an embodiment of the present disclosure. In general, websites, or third-party tracking entities, track online user behavior to collect information about a user to predict product or product categories in which the user may be most interested. This generally involves the collection and analysis of click stream data and other online user behavior to create a score or profile that, as accurately as possible, identifies the user as a person who may be interested in certain products or content.

In an illustrative embodiment, collection of user online behavior data involves the tagging of websites to track and capture click stream data as the user browses a website. Data may be collected and stored in a database or data warehouse and are subjected to data mining algorithms to uncover patterns in browser behavior. The results of the data mining procedure are used to create the behavioral profile or score which may then be used to serve personalized content, including advertisements and product recommendations, matched to the predicted user behavior.

In an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, user data, including historical online behavior, demographic information, purchase history, and user preferences, are not stored under a user's actual name, but may be instead stored by the server 21 under user online identifiers, including tracking cookies, user accounts, email addresses, and IP addresses as shown in FIG. 4. The online user behavior tracked and collected may include, without limitation, purchase history, products viewed, webpages viewed, items abandoned in a virtual shopping cart, terms utilized in formulating search queries, websites visited, and browsing behavior. In addition, demographic information known about a user, such as age, gender, interests, hobbies, etc. may also be utilized to in predicting a user's interests. User data may comprise both historical online user behavior and demographic information.

It will be appreciated that the base tracking cookie 202, base email address 204, base user account 205, tracking cookies 206, email addresses 208, matched user accounts 210, matched email addresses 212, and IP addresses 214 may each have its own tracked and captured user behavioral data, and user demographic data, stored in a database that may be utilized to generate personalized content, including targeted advertisements. In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 tracks and captures user online behavior for each of the base tracking cookie 202, base email address 204, base user account 205, tracking cookies 206, email addresses 208, matched user accounts 210, matched email addresses 212, and IP addresses 214. In an illustrative embodiment, one or more third-party servers track and capture user online behavior and demographic data for each of the base tracking cookie 202, base email address 204, base user account 205, tracking cookies 206, email addresses 208, matched user accounts 210, matched email addresses 212, and IP addresses 214.

In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 is operable to generate personalized electronic content, such as targeted advertisements, based on the tracked and captured user online behavior and demographic data for each of the base tracking cookie 202, base email address 204, base user account 205, tracking cookies 206, email addresses 208, matched user accounts 210, matched email addresses 212, and IP addresses 214. In an illustrative embodiment, one or more third-party servers are operable to generate and provide to the server 21 personalized electronic content, such as targeted advertisements, based on the tracked and captured user online behavior and user demographic information for each of the base tracking cookie 202, base email address 204, base user account 205, tracking cookies 206, email addresses 208, matched user accounts 210, matched email addresses 212, and IP addresses 214.

It will be appreciated that using the online user behavior and demographic data associated with the base tracking cookie 202, base email address 204, base user account 205, tracking cookies 206, email addresses 208, matched user accounts 210, matched email addresses 212, and IP addresses 214 creates a more robust data set for personalization of electronically generated content.

In an illustrative embodiment, the present invention further contemplates applying content usage parameters to the electronically generated content to account for variations in the user ID confidence level. In particular, where the user ID confidence level is high, then the higher the degree of personalization of the personalized content. Where the user ID confidence level is low, the degree of personalization of the personalized content is reduced.

In this regard, the present invention takes into account that for some user online identifiers in FIG. 4, there is a possibility that the targeted user is not actually the user that will view the personalized content. For example, in the case where the user online identifier is an IP address, there is a possibility that the targeted user is not actually the user that will view the personalized content because multiple users may utilize the same IP address. Nevertheless, the present invention recognizes the benefit of still providing personalized content in this situation, albeit with a lesser degree of personalization so as not to drive away non-targeted users by presenting highly personalized content meant for another user.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a table 300 containing an example of personalized content usage parameters for the different Levels I-IV of online user IDs stored in the master ID table 200 shown in FIG. 4. It will be appreciated that the usage parameters shown in FIG. 5 may vary in embodiments of the present disclosure. In an illustrative embodiment, the usage parameters determine the manner in which the electronically generated content is presented as well as filtering undesirable products or product categories from appearing in the personalized content.

As can be observed, for each of the Levels I-IV, there is provided in the table 300 the following rows: Recommended Messaging, Template, Adult Categories, Personal Sensitive, Personal Non-Sensitive, and Lowest Taxonomy Level. Each of these will now be explained.

Recommended Messaging refers to the prominence of the electronically generated content. That is, Recommended Messaging determines whether the electronically generated content is explicit or implicit in its targeting of a user. Explicit content makes clear that the user is being targeted, while implicit advertising does not make targeting clear. For example, where a user's previous online behavior predicts that the user may be interested in a diamond wedding ring previously viewed in a product listing, explicit content may include an image of the actual ring previously viewed by the user along with a statement inviting the user by name to purchase the ring. Implicit content, on the other hand, may simply include a general advertisement for wedding rings. Thus, explicit content is more personalized than implicit content.

The Template row in FIG. 5 refers to the fact that each of the Levels I-IV may have different templates. In an illustrative embodiment, the different templates may vary the degree of personalization of the electronically generated content. The templates may include webpage templates and email templates.

In an illustrative embodiment, the content usage parameters may include product filters. The Adult Categories row in FIG. 5 is an example of product categories that are automatically excluded, i.e., filtered, from appearing in personalized content for all of Levels I-IV. An example of an excluded adult category may be lingerie. The Personal Sensitive and Personal Non-Sensitive rows are example of product categories that are excluded or filtered for some of Levels I-IV but included in other ones of Levels I-IV. An example of a personal sensitive category may be caskets. An example of a personal non-sensitive category may be men's shoes.

It will be appreciated that some of the products or categories in a product taxonomy of an e-commerce website may be identified as adult, sensitive, or non-sensitive in a database. In an illustrative embodiment, this identification may be done manually by an operator of the server 21. In an illustrative embodiment, the server 21 may automate the identification.

Lowest Taxonomy Level refers to the lowest level of a product taxonomy tree that will be presented to a user for the Levels I-IV. Product level refers to the lowest node in a product taxonomy tree and may be an actual product offered for sale. Product level +1 refers to the next level just above the product level. Product level +2 refers to second level above the product level. Product level +3 refers to third level above the product level. In this regard, product level +1, product level +2, and product level +3, are subcategories in a product taxonomy tree while product level may be an actual product. (The arrow labeled “Product Taxonomy Level” in FIG. 4 represents this concept.)

From FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be observed that the higher the user ID confidence level, the greater the degree of personalization of the electronic content. Likewise, it can be observed that the lower the user ID confidence level, the lesser the degree of personalization of the electronic content. It can be further observed that each of Levels I-IV may have its own advertising preferences and product filters.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is depicted a flow diagram 400 of a process according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated the process of the diagram 400 may be performed by the processor 22 of the server 21 as it executes the instructions of the program 24. It will be appreciated that the process of the diagram 400 may contain more or fewer steps than shown in FIG. 6. It will further be appreciated that the steps shown in the diagram 400 are not limited to any particular order and may be performed in a different order than the order shown.

At step 402, a plurality of user online identifiers are associated in a database under a master ID. The master ID may be a numeric or alphanumeric identifier. The user online identifiers may include tracking cookies, email addresses, user accounts, IP addresses, or any other user online identifier utilized to track and monitor user behavior while online. The tracking cookies may include unique identifying data stored in the memory of user computers as known to those of ordinary skill. The tracking cookies may include tracking cookies from multiple user computers used to login to the same user account on a website.

The email addresses may include an email address provided by a user in association with a subscription, account creation, or lead generation. The email addresses may also include multiple email addresses linked to a single user account through login. For example, the email addresses may include a home and work email address for a user that are utilized to login to the same user account on a website.

The user accounts may include user accounts matched to a known user account for a user. The user accounts may be matched by comparing personal identifying information such as last name, first name, and a physical or mailing address. A user account that has the same last name, first name, and/or physical or mailing address is likely to be the same user of another user account that has the same last name, first name, and/or physical or mailing address.

Likewise, the email accounts may include email accounts matched by a physical or mailing address to a known address for a user. Again, an email account that has associated therewith the same last name, first name, and/or physical or mailing address is likely to be the same user of another email account that has the same last name, first name, and/or physical or mailing address. The IP addresses may include IP addresses that are used by the user computers to access a user account on a website.

It will be appreciated that the user online identifiers associated with the master ID may each have stored in a database associated tracked online behavior and/or demographic information that may be utilized to generate personalized content based upon predicted behavior.

At step 404, a set of content usage parameters is defined or assigned for each of the user online identifiers. Each set may contain a recommended messaging type, i.e., explicit or implicit. Each set may further include a template variant. Each set may further include product filters that exclude certain categories of products or products in a product taxonomy tree and also identifies the lowest level in the product taxonomy tree that may be presented for the associated user online identifier.

At step 406, a targeted user online identifier for a user is provided, identified, or selected. In an illustrative embodiment, the targeted user online identifier is obtained during a user's visit to a website. In association with the visit, the targeted user online identifier for the user is obtained. In an illustrative embodiment, the targeted user online identifier may be a tracking cookie stored on a user computer. In an illustrative embodiment, the targeted user online identifier is an email account. In an illustrative embodiment, the targeted user online identifier is a user account. In an illustrative embodiment, the targeted user online identifier is an IP address. Multiple targeted user online identifiers may be obtained at this step. For example, the target user online identifiers may include a tracking cookie, a user account, and an IP address. In an illustrative embodiment, the user online identifier is a targeted email address obtained from a list of targeted users in conjunction with an email marketing campaign.

At step 408, the target user online identifier(s) obtained at step 406 are compared to a plurality of user online identifiers stored in the database under master IDs. If a match is found, the corresponding master ID is identified, selected, and stored.

At step 410, preliminary electronic content is generated using the user online behavior for one or more of the user online identifiers associated with the selected master ID. The preliminary electronic content may identify one or more entries in a product taxonomy tree that are predicted to be of interest to the user.

At step 412, the set of content usage parameters corresponding to the targeted user online identifier(s) obtained at step 406 is applied to the preliminary electronic content generated at step 410 to generate personalized content.

At step 414, the personalized content generated at step 412 is displayed on a display of the user's computer. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized content may be transmitted over a network and displayed in a web browser on the user computer. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized content may be used to populate a template. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized content may be a targeted advertisement for a product or a service. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized content may be a banner add displayed on a third-party website. In an illustrative embodiment, the generated personalized content may be in a body of an email. The personalized content may be interactive such that a user can click through to an e-commerce website as known to those of ordinary skill. It will be appreciated the personalized content may include content for multiple targeted user online identifiers. In this regard, multiple sets of content usage parameters may be used to generate the personalized content.

At step 416, the user may complete an e-commerce transaction for a product or server advertised in the personalized content on an e-commerce website.

Example 1

A user requests a homepage of an e-commerce website from a server through a web browser running on a user computer as known to those of ordinary skill. Prior to generating the homepage, the server requests a tracking cookie previously stored on the user computer. Upon receiving the tracking cookie, the server compares the targeted tracking cookie to a database of tracking cookies. Upon finding a match to the tracking cookie of the user computer in the database, the server identifies, selects, and stores a master ID associated with the tracking cookie found in the database. Using the master ID, the server is able to identify other user online identifiers associated with the master ID.

Using one or more of the user online identifiers associated with the master ID, the server is able to generate preliminary electronic content based on user online behavior that was previously tracked and stored. Then, the server applies to the preliminary electronic content the appropriate sets of content usage parameters to define the final personalized content. The personalized content is then utilized to populate a homepage template, which is served to the user computer and displayed in a web browser as the homepage. The personalized content may comprise targeted advertisements or product recommendations. (End of example.)

Those having ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate the advantages provide by the features of the present disclosure. For example, it is a feature of the present disclosure to provide an enhanced user identification system and method for use in e-commerce. Another feature of the present disclosure is to provide an enhanced user identification system and method for personalizing electronically generated content used for webpages, emails, and other electronic documents. It is a further feature of the present disclosure, in accordance with one aspect thereof, to provide a system for personalizing electronic content to increase the probability of a sale in an e-commerce environment.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description of the Disclosure by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and the appended claims, are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for customizing a webpage with personal, electronically generated content provided to a user computer over a network, said system comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; wherein the webpage is accessible by the processor via the network; computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the operations of (i) associating a plurality of user online identifiers under a master ID by matching at least one of a user's name, physical address, and email address associated with a first user online identifier to at least one of a user's name, physical address and email address associated with a second user online identifier, and placing the master ID and associated plurality of user online identifiers in a database that comprises user online identifiers organized under master IDs, (ii) tracking, storing and maintaining user data under the master ID, wherein the user data comprise user interaction information that has a connection to at least one of the user online identifiers matched to said master ID, (iii) defining or associating content usage parameters with each of the plurality of user online identifiers based on a user ID confidence level for each of the plurality of user online identifiers, (iv) providing, identifying, or selecting a target user online identifier for a user, (v) running an automated procedure for comparing the target user online identifier obtained in operation (iv) to the plurality of user online identifiers, based on the user data for each master ID, in the database and, when a match is found, identifying, selecting, and storing the master ID corresponding to the match found, (vi) generating preliminary electronic content using the user online behavior for one or more of the user online identifiers associated with the stored master ID, wherein the preliminary electronic content identifies one or more entries in a product taxonomy tree that are predicted to be of interest to the user, (vii) generating personalized content by applying a set of content usage parameters corresponding to the target user online identifier, and (viii) displaying the personalized content generated in operation (vi) on a display of the user's computer; wherein the plurality of user online identifiers comprises at least one of at least two user accounts, at least two email addresses, at least two unique tracking identifiers, and at least two IP addresses.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises at least one of a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises at least two of a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises at least three of a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the target user online identifier further comprises one or more of a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the content usage parameters for each of the plurality of user online identifiers designates a lowest preferred taxonomy level of a product taxonomy tree.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the content usage parameters for each of the plurality of user online identifiers define one or more product or product category filters.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the content usage parameters for each of the plurality of user online identifiers define a recommended messaging type.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the recommended messaging type is one of explicit and implicit.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, that when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform the operations of populating a template with the filtered personalized content.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the template comprises an email template.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the personalized content comprises one or more product recommendations.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the personalized content comprises at least one of targeted advertisements, product recommendations, banner advertisements, special promotions, webpages, invitations, emails, search results and product lists.
 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the user data comprises at least one of historical online user behavior, demographic data, purchase history, and user preferences.
 16. A method of customizing a webpage with personal, electronically generated content, said method comprising: (A) processing by a processor a plurality of user online identifiers under a master ID by matching at least one of a user's name, physical address, and email address associated with a first user online identifier to at least one of a user's name, physical address and email address associated with a second user online identifier and placing the master IDs and associated plurality of user online identifiers in a database that comprises user online identifiers organized under master IDs; (B) tracking, storing and maintaining user data under the master ID, wherein the user data comprise user interaction information that has a connection to at least one of the user online identifiers matched to said master ID, (C) processing by the processor content usage parameters to associate them with the plurality of user online identifiers based on a user ID confidence level for each of the plurality of user online identifiers; (D) processing by the processor a target user online identifier for a user; (E) running an automated procedure by executing computer-readable instructions stored in a memory coupled to the processor for comparing the target user online identifier obtained in step (D) to the plurality of user online identifiers, based on the user data for each master ID, in the database and, when a match is found, identifying selecting, and storing the master ID corresponding to the match found; (F) generating preliminary electronic content using the user online behavior for one or more of the user online identifiers associated with the stored master ID, wherein the preliminary electronic content identifies one or more entries in a product taxonomy tree that are predicted to be of interest to a user; (G) generating personalized content by applying a set of content usage parameters corresponding to the target user online identifier; and (H) displaying the personalized content generated at step (F) on a display of the user's computer; wherein the plurality of user online identifiers comprises at least one of at least two user accounts, at least two email addresses, at least two unique tracking identifiers, and at least two IP addresses.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises at least one of a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises at least two of a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises at least three of a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of user online identifiers further comprises a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein the target user online identifier comprises a user account, an email address, a unique tracking identifier, and an IP address.
 22. The method of claim 16, wherein the content usage parameters for each of the plurality of user online identifiers designates a lowest preferred taxonomy level of a product taxonomy tree.
 23. The method of claim 16, wherein the content usage parameters for each of the plurality of user online identifiers define one or more product or product category filters.
 24. The method of claim 16, wherein the content usage parameters for each of the plurality of user online identifiers define a recommended messaging type.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the recommended messaging type is one of explicit and implicit.
 26. The method of claim 16, further comprising populating a template with the filtered personalized content.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the template is one of a webpage template and an email template.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the personalized content comprises one or more product recommendations.
 29. The method of claim 16, wherein the personalized content comprises at least one of targeted advertisements, product recommendations, special promotions, webpages, invitations, emails, search results and product lists.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the targeted advertisements are banner advertisements. 